Janibek Alimkhanuly says Terence Crawford won’t have to drop down to 160 pounds to fight for Carlos Adames’ WBC middleweight title.
Janibek’s challenge to Crawford
IBF and WBO 160-pound champion Janibek says he will defeat WBA champion Erislandy Lara on December 6 and then Adames for the belt. Then Crawford can fight him for all four belts when he’s ready.
The main problem for undefeated Janibek (17-0, 12 KO) is that Adames (24-1-1, 18 KO) has never shown any interest in fighting him. And now, with Crawford sniffing around and suggesting a move up to 160 pounds to win a sixth-division world title, the reason Adames, 31, would fight Alimkhnuly is even less relevant. Why take a risky fight when he can sit and wait for Crawford?
Crawford’s easier route through Adames
The WBC title is the equivalent of a golden ticket for Adames because he has the best chance of fighting Crawford. Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, Bud sparred with Adames many years ago and reportedly defeated him in 2014. Competing against Adames would be easier for Crawford than fighting the likely 160-pound king, Janibek, for the titles if he prevails in his December 6 fight against Lara.
There is no need to fight Adames
It’s understandable that Janibek wants Crawford to fight for the 160-pound belts because a million-dollar payday would be huge. If Crawford moves up to middleweight and faces Adames instead, he could either give up after having his WBC title stripped from him and settle for a sixth-division title, or retire.
Height and style matching factor
The 5’11 1/2″ Janibek would be one of the tallest opponents the 5’11 1/2″ Crawford has faced since his fight against the 5’11 1/2″ Viktor Postol on July 23, 2016. He had a lot of trouble with the lanky Ukrainian in that fight and had to rely on his hand speed and movement to take a unanimous decision after 12 rounds.
Janibek vs. Lara will fight in a co-featured video at the Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz vs. Lamont Roach event taking place on December 6, 2025 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. The event will be broadcast on Amazon Prime Video PPV. 42-year-old Lara (31-3-3, 19 KO) will have a 15-month break since her last fight against Danny Garcia on September 14, 2024. Lara defeated former two-division world champion Garcia in the ninth round.
Tom Galm has been vigorous on the global boxing scene since 2014, specializing in heavyweight analysis, business trends and fighter psychology.